Winter Garden: A Novel by Kristin Hannah is one of my all-time favorite pieces of historical fiction. The story begins in contemporary times but intertwines the Siege of Leningrad that occurred from 1941-1944.
Yet, the book doesn't bore the reader by endless amounts of dates and events; rather, it draws the reader in by personalizing the events, by humanizing the victims and what happened during those horrible years.
The book delves into family history, secrets, and how connections between siblings, parents, and children can become stronger throughout time. Yet, beneath those connections lie memories that need peace but will never be forgotten. The secrets are kept by the mother in order to protect herself and her past; however, she also realizes that all is not what it seems and she ultimately finds peace in her life.
Hannah also brings to light different generational attitudes and how these attitudes relate to one another. While one generation keeps their past a secret (having lived through World War 2), the younger generation has its own secrets but has difficulty understanding why the World War 2 generation cannot open up.
Overall, Winter Garden: A Novel is one narrative that reaches deeply into the soul and makes the reader sympathize immensely with the characters in the book. Hannah brings to life the difficulties experienced by the residents of Leningrad during the siege and describes them in a way that drops the siege at the forefront of the reader's imagination. In fact, reading this book inspired me to want to go to St. Petersburg, Russia (formerly Leningrad) to discover more about the siege.
Rate: 10/10
Link to purchase the book on Amazon:
Yet, the book doesn't bore the reader by endless amounts of dates and events; rather, it draws the reader in by personalizing the events, by humanizing the victims and what happened during those horrible years.
The book delves into family history, secrets, and how connections between siblings, parents, and children can become stronger throughout time. Yet, beneath those connections lie memories that need peace but will never be forgotten. The secrets are kept by the mother in order to protect herself and her past; however, she also realizes that all is not what it seems and she ultimately finds peace in her life.
Hannah also brings to light different generational attitudes and how these attitudes relate to one another. While one generation keeps their past a secret (having lived through World War 2), the younger generation has its own secrets but has difficulty understanding why the World War 2 generation cannot open up.
Overall, Winter Garden: A Novel is one narrative that reaches deeply into the soul and makes the reader sympathize immensely with the characters in the book. Hannah brings to life the difficulties experienced by the residents of Leningrad during the siege and describes them in a way that drops the siege at the forefront of the reader's imagination. In fact, reading this book inspired me to want to go to St. Petersburg, Russia (formerly Leningrad) to discover more about the siege.
Rate: 10/10
Link to purchase the book on Amazon:
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